Mounting device and lighting device

Abstract

To provide an attaching device capable of preventing the falling of an apparatus.SOLUTION: An attaching device 13 comprises an attaching portion 40, a socket 41, a first lock portion 94, and a second lock portion 95. The attaching portion 40 is provided on an apparatus having an electrode. The socket 41 is electrically connected with an electrode while the attaching portion 40 is slid to a predetermined attachment position. The first lock portion 94 locks the attaching portion 40 slid to the attachment position of the socket 41, and can release the locking by a predetermined lock releasing operation. The second lock portion 95 locks the attaching portion 40 slid toward a drawing-out direction from the attachment position of the socket 41 at a timing immediately before being drawn out from the socket 41, and can release the locking by the predetermined lock releasing operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a mounting device for mounting a device and a lighting device including the mounting device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a lighting device in which a light source module is replaceable, for example. In this lighting device, the light source module is configured to be slid with respect to a socket for attachment and detachment, and the light source module attached to the socket is elastically sandwiched and held from a direction intersecting the sliding direction.

[0003] When replacing the light source module, the light source module is manually slid in the removal direction against the elastic clamping by the socket. However, when the light source module is removed from the socket, there is a problem that the light source module is likely to fall from the hand.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a mounting device and a lighting device capable of preventing a device from falling.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The mounting device of the embodiment includes a mounting portion, a socket, a first locking portion, and a second locking portion. The mounting portion is provided on a device having an electrode. The socket is electrically connected to the electrode in a state where the mounting portion is slid to a predetermined mounting position. The first locking portion locks the mounting portion slid to the mounting position of the socket and can be unlocked by a predetermined unlocking operation. The second locking portion locks the mounting portion slid in the removal direction from the mounting position of the socket at a timing before the mounting portion is removed from the socket and can be unlocked by a predetermined unlocking operation.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the mounting device of the embodiment, it can be expected to prevent the device from falling.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Illumination device 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The illumination device 10 is an example of a device provided with a mounting device for mounting a device. The illumination device 10 is installed on a ceiling surface, a wall surface, etc. using a separate installation device, or is placed and installed at a predetermined installation location, for example. Note that, although the direction in which the front side, which is the light irradiation direction, is directed varies depending on the installation situation and the usage situation, hereinafter, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the front side, which is the light irradiation direction, is directed laterally, and each direction will be described as up and down, left and right, and front and back as viewed from the front side, which is the light irradiation direction.

[0011] The illumination device 10 includes a housing 11, a light source unit 12, a mounting device 13, a sensor display unit 14, and a drive circuit 15, which are devices arranged inside the housing 11.

[0012] The housing 11 is a metal housing formed of a metal material such as aluminum, for example, and is provided in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 11 has a main body 20 with an open front side and a front cover 21 that is attachable and detachable or openable and closable to the front side of the main body 20. For example, the upper side of the front cover 21 is connected to the upper side of the main body 20 by a hinge mechanism, and the front cover 21 is provided to be openable and closable with respect to the main body 20 via this hinge mechanism.

[0013] A detachable opening 22 through which the light source unit 12 passes when being attached and detached is formed at the front end of the lower surface of the main body 20.

[0014] When the front cover 21 is closed on the front side of the main body 20, screws 23 inserted through the side surface portions on both the left and right sides of the main body 20 are screwed and attached to the main body 20. On the front side of the front cover 21, a substantially rectangular irradiation opening 24 is formed in the central region, and a plurality of holes 25 through which the sensor display unit 14 faces are provided in the side region of the irradiation opening 24. A closing portion 26 for closing the detachable opening 22 of the main body 20 is provided on the lower surface of the front cover 21. The light source unit 12 is an example of a device.

[0015] Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the light source unit 12 has a light source case 30, a light source housed in the light source case 30, a pair of left and right electrodes 31 disposed on the back side of the light source case 30, and an electrode cover 32 holding the pair of electrodes 31.

[0016] The light source case 30 is made of resin, for example, has insulation, and is formed in a substantially square box shape with a relatively small thickness in the front-rear direction. A substantially square window portion 33 for radiating light from the light source is opened in the central region on the front side of the light source case 30. The window portion 33 is covered with a glass plate 34 which is a light-transmitting member. The window portion 33 is disposed at a position facing the irradiation opening 24 of the housing 11 in a state where the light source unit 12 is mounted in the housing 11.

[0017] As the light source, for example, a plurality of discharge tubes and a pair of external electrodes for generating discharge within these discharge tubes are used. The discharge tubes include, for example, discharge lamps or excimer lamps that emit light. The discharge tubes have a predetermined discharge gas, discharge substance, etc. enclosed inside a cylindrical glass tube, and dielectric barrier discharge is generated, for example, by a pulsed voltage applied between the pair of external electrodes to emit light. The light emitted by the discharge tubes becomes desired light such as visible light or ultraviolet light depending on the type of the enclosed substance. The plurality of discharge tubes are arranged in parallel within the light source case 30 in a posture where the axial direction, which is the longitudinal direction, is horizontal, facing parallel to the window portion 33 and with a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. Note that the light source may use semiconductor light-emitting elements such as LEDs or organic ELs.

[0018] A pair of electrodes 31 on the left and right have conductivity and are formed of plate-shaped bus bars that are long in the vertical direction. The pair of electrodes 31 are held by the electrode cover 32 and are arranged at positions separated in the left-right direction on the back side of the light source case 30 and at positions separated from the back side of the light source case 30. They are electrically connected to and attached to a pair of external electrodes within the light source case 30 by a plurality of screws 35. Upper electrode portions 36 and lower electrode portions 36 are respectively provided above and below each electrode 31. The electrode portions 36 of each electrode 31 protrude outward in the left-right direction, and the tip sides in the protruding direction are formed in an arc shape. At the center of each electrode portion 36, for example, a hole portion 37 processed by burning is provided.

[0019] The electrode cover 32 is made of, for example, resin and has insulation properties. The power supply cover 32 is formed integrally with the pair of electrodes 31 by, for example, insert molding. The electrode cover 32 has a pair of holding portions 38 for holding the pair of electrodes 31 and a connecting portion 39 for connecting the central portions of these holding portions 38. The connecting portion 39 is arranged at a position separated from the back side of the light source case 30.

[0020] Also, the mounting device 13 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 14. The mounting device 13 detachably mounts the light source unit 12 in the housing 11 and electrically connects it to the drive circuit 15.

[0021] The mounting device 13 includes a mounting portion 40 attached to the back side of the light source unit 12 and a socket 41 attached in the main body 20. The mounting portion 40 is slidable in the vertical direction with respect to the socket 41 for detachable attachment, and when the mounting portion 40 is slid and attached to a predetermined mounting position of the socket 41, a pair of electrodes 31 of the light source unit 12 are electrically connected to the socket 41.

[0022] The mounting portion 40 is made of, for example, resin and has insulating properties. The upper side of the mounting portion 40, that is, the tip side in the insertion direction a into the socket 41, is formed with a smaller width in the left - right direction than the lower side. The mounting portion 40 has a covering portion 44 disposed so as to cover a pair of electrodes 31 on the back side of the light source unit 12, a handle portion 45 provided on the lower side of the covering portion 44, and side surface portions 46 protruding forward from both the left and right sides of the covering portion 44. A pair of screws 47 passing through the covering portion 44 are screwed into holes 37 of the electrode portions 36 on the lower side of the pair of electrodes 31, and the mounting portion 40 is attached to the light source unit 12 via the pair of electrodes 31. The mounting portion 40 covers the back side, the lower surface side, and both the left and right sides of the pair of electrodes 31 and the electrode cover 32 with the covering portion 44, the handle portion 45, and the side surface portions 46 on both sides, and is attached to a position separated from the back side of the light source case 30 via the pair of electrodes 31 and the electrode cover 32. The mounting portion 40 covers the electrode portions 36 on the lower side of the pair of electrodes 31, but exposes the upper electrode portions 36 to enable electrical connection to the socket 41.

[0023] A protrusion 48 protrudes from the center of the upper side of the covering portion 44, that is, the tip side in the insertion direction a into the socket 41, and a positioning groove 49, which is an engaging portion, is provided along the vertical direction, which is the sliding direction, at the center of the protrusion 48.

[0024] On the upper and lower directions of the covering part 44, that is, in the sliding direction, engaged parts 50 and 51 are respectively provided at an intermediate position and a lower position. These engaged parts 50 and 51 are provided in pairs at positions spaced apart in the left - right direction of the covering part 44. The engaged part 50 at the intermediate position is located on the upper side of the engagement hole 52 provided in the covering part 44, and is provided on an inclined surface that inclines with respect to the sliding direction so as to be recessed into the engagement hole 52. A part of the engaged part 50 may or may not protrude from the back side of the covering part 44. When it protrudes from the back side of the covering part 44, the engaged part 50 may be provided on two inclined surfaces different in the vertical direction (both an inclined surface that becomes lower along the insertion direction a and an inclined surface that becomes lower along the removal direction b), or may be provided on one inclined surface in the vertical direction (either one of the two above - mentioned inclined surfaces). When the engaged part 50 is provided on two inclined surfaces different in the vertical direction, it is desirable that it be provided on an inclined surface such that the highest points of the two inclined surfaces are connected. The engaged part 51 at the lower position is formed on an inclined surface that inclines with respect to the sliding direction so as to be recessed from the back side of the covering part 44 (an inclined surface that becomes lower along the removal direction b). Also, on the back side of the covering part 44, a guide groove 53 is provided between the engaged part 50 at the intermediate position and the engaged part 51 at the lower position.

[0025] The handle part 45 is provided in a horizontally long frame shape that allows the fingertips to be inserted and grasped by hand. The handle part 45 is arranged at a position where at least the lower side protrudes below the lower surface side of the light source unit 12, and can be grasped by hand through the lower part of the light source unit 12. The handle part 45 is arranged in the main body 20 by sliding the mounting part 40 to a predetermined mounting position of the socket 41.

[0026] On the upper side of the side surface parts 46 on both the left and right sides, that is, on the tip side in the insertion direction a into the socket 41, guide parts 54 that are separated from the covering part 44 and are configured to be swingable in the left - right direction, which is the width direction, at the tip side are provided. On the tip side of the guide part 54, claw - shaped abutting parts 55 that protrude to the outer surface side of the guide part 54 (the left - right direction in the figure) are provided.

[0027] On the lower side of the side surface 46, that is, on the tip side in the removal direction b from the socket 41, a lock lever portion 56 is provided which is separated from the covering portion 44 and the handle portion 45 and is configured such that the tip side can swing in the left - right direction.

[0028] On the outer surface of the lock lever portion 56, a claw portion 57 which is a locking portion detachably locked to the socket 41 protrudes. This claw portion 57 is formed with an inclined surface 57a whose surface in the insertion direction a protrudes to the outer surface side (left - right direction in the figure), and a locking surface 57b whose surface in the removal direction b is substantially perpendicular to the lock lever portion 56. On the tip side (downward direction in the figure) of the lock lever 56, an operation portion 58 for swinging the lock lever 56 to remove the claw portion 57 from the socket 41 is provided. The operation portion 58 of the lock lever 56 is formed longer in the front - rear direction than the handle portion 45 and the side surface portion 66, and is disposed at both left and right positions of the handle portion 45 at a position protruding downward from the lower surface side of the light source unit 12, and can be operated through the lower part of the light source unit 12.

[0029] Also, the socket 41 includes a socket body 60 to which the attachment portion 40 is detachably attached, a pair of terminals 61 to which the pair of electrodes 31 of the light source unit 12 are electrically connected respectively, and a pair of terminal covers 62 covering the pair of terminals 61 (see Fig. 5 etc.).

[0030] The socket body 60 is made of, for example, resin and has insulating properties. The socket body 60 has a front surface portion 63, a back surface portion 64, an upper surface portion 65, and left and right side surface portions 66, and an attachment opening 67 through which the attachment portion 40 slides in the up - down direction for attachment and detachment is opened on the lower surface side, and a space portion 68 into which the attachment portion 40 is inserted is formed inside.

[0031] The front part 63 has an opening on the lower side corresponding to the insertion / removal opening 67, and a pair of groove parts 69 communicate with this opening. The pair of groove parts 69 correspond to the positions of the pair of holding parts 38 of the electrode cover 32 of the light source unit 12, and these holding parts 38 are provided along the vertical direction so as to be slidably inserted in the vertical direction with respect to the socket body 60. Further, between the pair of groove parts 69, a guide part 70 that is relatively inserted between the pair of holding parts 38 and between the light source case 30 and the connecting part 39 is provided (in the actual usage form, since the mounting part 40 is mounted on the fixed socket 41, the pair of holding parts 38 and between the light source case 30 and the connecting part 39 are inserted with respect to the guide part 70, so it is expressed as relatively). On the back side of the guide part 70, a fitting part 71 that detachably fits the connecting part 39 of the light source unit 12 slid to a predetermined mounting position of the socket 41 from above and below is protruded, and further, above the fitting part 71, a positioning protrusion 72, which is an engaged part, is protruded along the vertical direction, which is the sliding direction. The positioning protrusion 72 engages with the positioning groove 49 of the mounting part 40 along the vertical direction relatively, and positions the left - right direction positions of the mounting part 40 and the socket 41.

[0032] The back part 64 has an opening on the upper side and is provided only on the lower side corresponding to the insertion / removal opening 67. On the front side of the back part 64, corresponding to the positions of the engaged parts 50 and 51 of the mounting part 40 that slides with respect to the socket 41, a pair of engaging parts 73 that can engage with the engaged part 50 or the engaged part 51 are provided (see FIG. 8, etc.). The engaging parts 73 are provided at the tip side of a support part 74 that is provided on the back part 64 so as to be swingable in the front - rear direction with the upper side as a fulcrum. The engaging parts 73 are formed in a claw shape with a substantially triangular cross - section where the surfaces facing the insertion direction a and the removal direction b are inclined surfaces. On the back part 64, an arrow 75 indicating the removal direction b is provided between the pair of engaging parts 73.

[0033] On the lower sides of the side portions 66 on both the left and right sides, side wall portions 76 are provided corresponding to the insertion / removal openings 67. On these side wall portions 76, there are provided claw receiving portions 77 which are locking portions for detachably locking the claw portions 57 of the mounting portion 40 slid to a predetermined mounting position with respect to the socket 41. The claw receiving portion 77 has an inclined surface 77a formed on the lower surface facing the insertion direction a of the mounting portion 40, and a locking surface 77b which is a substantially vertical surface formed on the upper surface facing the removal direction b of the mounting portion 40. Above the claw receiving portion 77, a claw receiving groove 78 into which the claw portion 57 locked to the locking surface 77b enters is formed.

[0034] On the upper sides of the side portions 66 on both the left and right sides, an inner wall portion 79 and an outer wall portion 80 arranged spaced apart on the outer surface side of this inner wall portion 79 are provided. The interval between the inner wall portions 79 on both the left and right sides is narrower than the interval between the side wall portions 76 on both the left and right sides, and is connected to the side wall portions 76 on both the left and right sides via inclined surfaces 81. The interval between the inner wall portions 79 on both the left and right sides is wider than the interval between the outer surfaces of the guide portions 54 on both the left and right sides of the mounting portion 40, and is in a relationship narrower than the interval between the outer surfaces of the contact portions 55 on both the left and right sides.

[0035] On the side portions 66 on both the left and right sides, a plurality of mounting claw portions 83 attached to an inner frame 82 disposed within the main body 20 are provided.

[0036] On both the left and right sides of the socket main body 60, a pair of terminal storage portions 84 for storing a pair of terminals 61 are formed. The terminal storage portions 84 are provided over a range from the upper side to the side portion of the socket main body 60, and are open to the back side of the socket main body 60. The terminal storage portions 84 are formed between the inner wall portion 79 and the outer wall portion 80 on the side portion of the socket main body 60, and the lower side is open to the outside from the side portion 66. In the terminal storage portions 84, a plurality of terminal holding portions 85 for holding the terminals 61 are provided.

[0037] Further, the pair of terminals 61 are formed of a conductive leaf spring and are disposed in a pair of terminal accommodating portions 84 of the socket body 60. The pair of terminals 61 include a terminal plate portion 86, a connection portion 87 provided on the upper end side of the terminal plate portion 86, and a wiring portion 88 provided on the lower end side of the terminal plate portion 86.

[0038] When the mounting portion 40 is mounted at a predetermined mounting position of the socket 41, the pair of electrodes 31 of the light source unit 12 are electrically connected to the connection portion 87. The connection portion 87 includes a bent portion 89 bent from the upper end of the terminal plate portion 86, a pair of opposing portions 90 bent so as to face each other from both sides in the front-rear direction of the bent portion 89, and four contact portions 91 bent so as to face each other from both sides in the left-right direction of the pair of opposing portions 90. The contact portions 91 facing each other are formed in a substantially triangular shape such that their vertices face each other. The distance between the two contact portions 91 on the left and right sides is narrower than the width of the electrode 31 in the left-right direction, and the electrode 31 contacts the four contact portions 91. The interval between the contact portions 91 facing each other is narrower than the plate thickness of the electrode 31. When the electrode 31 is inserted between the contact portions 91 facing each other, the contact portions 91 facing each other contact both side surfaces of the electrode 31. That is, the terminal 61 is in four-point contact with the electrode 31 and is electrically connected. By having such four-point contact, the parallelism of the pair of opposing portions 90 is ensured, the contact pressure at the four points with the electrode 31 is equalized, and a stable electrical connection can be achieved.

[0039] Of the contact portions 91 facing each other, the inner contact portion 91 located closer to the inner side in the left-right direction of the socket 41 contacts at a position closer to the inner side in the left-right direction than the hole portion 37 of the electrode portion 36 of the electrode 31, and the outer contact portion 91 located closer to the outer side in the left-right direction of the socket 41 contacts at a position closer to the outer side in the left-right direction than the hole portion 37 of the electrode portion 36.

[0040] The wiring portion 88 uses a locking terminal structure to mechanically lock and electrically connect the inserted wiring. The wiring connected to the terminal 61 is electrically connected to the drive circuit 15.

[0041] Further, the terminal cover 62 is attached so as to cover the back side of the terminal housing portion 84 in which the terminal 61 is housed, and holds the terminal 61 in the terminal housing portion 84. A wiring hole 92 through which wiring connected to the wiring portion 88 of the terminal 61 is inserted is provided at the lower portion of the terminal cover 62.

[0042] Further, the mounting device 13 includes a first locking portion 94, a second locking portion 95, and a third locking portion 96 for locking the mounting portion 40 at a predetermined position with respect to the socket 41.

[0043] The first locking portion 94 includes a lock lever portion 56 and a claw portion 57 of the mounting portion 40, and a claw receiving portion 77 of the socket 41. The first locking portion 94 locks the mounting portion 40 slid to a predetermined mounting position of the socket 41 to prevent it from coming off, and can be unlocked by a predetermined unlocking operation. The locking of the first locking portion 94 is achieved by the engagement of the claw portion 57 and the claw receiving portion 77. The unlocking operation of the first locking portion 94 is to swing the lock lever portion 56 to disengage the claw portion 57 from the claw receiving portion 77.

[0044] The second locking portion 95 includes an engaged portion 50 of the mounting portion 40 and an engaging portion 73 of the socket 41. The second locking portion 95 locks the mounting portion 40 slid in the removal direction b from a predetermined mounting position of the socket 41, for example, immediately before the timing of being removed from the socket 41, to restrict removal, and can be unlocked by a predetermined unlocking operation. The locking of the second locking portion 95 is achieved by the engagement of the engaged portion 50 and the engaging portion 73. The unlocking operation of the second locking portion 95 is to slide the mounting portion 40 in the removal direction b against the sliding resistance caused by the engagement of the engaged portion 50 and the engaging portion 73.

[0045] The third locking portion 96 includes an engaged portion 51 of the mounting portion 40 and an engaging portion 73 of the socket 41. The third locking portion 96 engages the engaged portion 51 with the engaging portion 73 at the timing when the first locking portion 94 locks the mounting portion 40 slid to a predetermined mounting position of the socket 41, locks the mounting portion 40 against sliding in the removal direction b to restrict removal, and allows unlocking by sliding the mounting portion 40 in the removal direction b against this lock.

[0046] Furthermore, the light source unit 12 and the socket 41 are provided with a fourth locking portion 97 for locking the light source unit 41 at a predetermined mounting position with respect to the socket 41. The fourth locking portion 97 includes a connecting portion 39 of the electrode cover 32 of the light source unit 12 and a fitting portion 71 of the socket 41. Similar to the third locking portion 96, the fourth locking portion 97 locks the light source unit 12 against sliding in the removal direction b at the timing when the first locking portion 94 locks the mounting portion 40 slid to a predetermined mounting position of the socket 41 to restrict removal, and allows unlocking by sliding the light source unit 12 in the removal direction b together with the mounting portion 40 against this lock.

[0047] That is, in the present embodiment, when the mounting portion 40 is pushed most deeply into the socket 41 in the insertion direction a, the locks of the first locking portion 94, the third locking portion 96, and the fourth locking portion 97 are configured to function. And when the mounting portion 40 is pulled out in the removal direction b from the state where it is pushed most deeply into the socket 41 in the insertion direction a, the lock of the second locking portion 95 is configured to function. When attaching the mounting portion 40 to the socket 41, it is desirable that the timings at which the first locking portion 94, the third locking portion 96, and the fourth locking portion 97 function do not overlap with the timing at which the second locking portion 95 functions.

[0048] Furthermore, the attachment portion 40 and the socket 41 are provided with a positioning portion 98 for positioning the electrode 31 and the terminal 61. The positioning portion 98 includes a positioning groove 49 which is an engaging portion provided in the attachment portion 40 in the vicinity of the electrode 31, and a positioning protrusion 72 which is an engaged portion provided in the socket 41 in the vicinity of the connection portion 87 of the terminal 61. When the positioning groove 49 and the positioning protrusion 72 are engaged with each other, the positioning portion 98 positions the left - right direction position when the attachment portion 40 is inserted into the socket 41, and also positions the left - right direction position between the terminal 61 and the electrode 31.

[0049] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the sensor display unit 14 has a sensor portion such as a human - presence sensor and a display portion for displaying the operation status, etc., is attached to the back side of the front cover 21, and performs detection and display through the hole portion 25. Whether or not the locks of the above - described first lock portion 94, second lock portion 95, third lock portion 96, and fourth lock portion 97 are operating can be detected using, for example, a sensor, and which lock is currently operating can be displayed on the display portion. Also, in the display of the operating locks, it may be displayed in detail for each operating lock, or it may be displayed whether at least one of the four locks of the first lock portion 94 to the fourth lock portion 97 is operating, or whether none of the four locks of the first lock portion 94 to the fourth lock portion 97 is operating. The display portion may be a display device such as a liquid crystal, or an LED etc. may be used as an indicator.

[0050] Also, the drive circuit 15 is attached to the inner frame 82 and is arranged inside the main body 20. The drive circuit 15 is electrically connected to the wiring electrically connected to the pair of terminals 61 of the socket 41. The drive circuit 15 converts external power such as AC power or DC power into a predetermined lighting power, supplies this lighting power from the socket 41 to the light source of the light source unit 12, and lights the light source. When the light source is a discharge tube, the drive circuit 15 converts external power into a pulse voltage of a predetermined frequency, applies this pulse voltage from the socket 41 to the pair of external electrodes of the light source unit 12, generates a discharge in the discharge tube, and emits light.

[0051] When the front cover 21 is closed to the main body 20, the drive circuit 15 can supply lighting power to the light source unit 12, and when the front cover 21 is not closed to the main body 20, the drive circuit 15 does not supply lighting power to the light source unit 12. In this case, a detection signal from a detection unit that detects the opening and closing of the front cover 21 may be input to the drive circuit 15 for control, or the supply of external power to the drive circuit 15 may be switched according to the opening and closing of the front cover 21.

[0052] And in the lighting device 10 configured as described above, first, the attachment of the light source unit 12 into the housing 11 will be described.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 3, the front cover 21 is opened to expose the socket 41 of the main body 20.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8, while pressing the front end side (the protruding portion 48) of the covering portion 44 of the mounting portion 40 attached to the light source unit 12 against the back surface portion 64 of the socket 41 from the front, the front end side of the mounting portion 40 is inserted into the space portion 68 through the insertion and removal opening 67 of the socket 41, that is, the front end side of the mounting portion 40 is inserted between the front surface portion 63, the back surface portion 64, and the side surface portions 66 on both the left and right sides of the socket 41. The mounting portion 40 together with the light source unit 12 is slid in the insertion direction a. At this time, the covering portion 44 of the mounting portion 40 abuts against the engaging portion 73 that protrudes forward from the back surface portion 64 of the socket 41, and the engaging portion 73 is pushed backward by the elastic deformation of the support portion 74.

[0055] When the mounting portion 40 is slid in the insertion direction a, as shown in FIG. 10, the contact portions 55 of the guide portions 54 on both the left and right sides of the mounting portion 40 abut against the inclined surfaces 81 on both the left and right sides of the socket 41, and while elastically deforming so that the distance between the front end sides of the guide portions 54 on both the left and right sides becomes narrower, the contact portions 55 on both the left and right sides are slid so as to abut against the inner surface sides of the inner wall portions 79 on both the left and right sides. By the guide portions 54 on both the left and right sides, the left - right position of the front end side of the mounting portion 40 with respect to the socket 41 is positioned. Therefore, the positioning groove 49 of the mounting portion 40 and the positioning protrusion 72 of the socket 41 are positioned so as to be engageable.

[0056] Further, at the slide position where the contact portions 55 of the guide portions 54 on both the left and right sides contact the inner surface sides of the inner wall portions 79 on both the left and right sides, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 12, the engaging portion 73 of the socket 41 elastically enters the engaging hole 52 of the mounting portion 40. In this state, since the engaged portion 50 of the mounting portion 40 constituting the second locking portion 95 and the engaging portion 73 of the socket 41 can be engaged, even if the slide is temporarily stopped during the mounting of the light source unit 12, the mounting portion 40 does not slide in the removal direction b and the mounting portion 40 does not come off from the socket 41. Further, at this slide position of the mounting portion 40, at least the handle portion 45 of the mounting portion 40 is located outside the main body 20, so that it is possible to prevent the front cover 21 from being closed to the main body 20 in a state where the mounting of the light source unit 12 is not completed.

[0057] Furthermore, when the mounting portion 40 is slid in the insertion direction a, the engaging portion 73 of the socket 41 disengages from the engaging hole 52 of the mounting portion 40 and slides in a state where the engaging portion 73 of the socket 41 elastically contacts the guide groove 53 of the mounting portion 40.

[0058] During the sliding of the mounting portion 40, the positioning groove 49 of the mounting portion 40 is engaged with the positioning projection 72 of the socket 41, thereby positioning the left-right position when the mounting portion 40 is inserted into the socket 41, and positioning the left-right position of the electrode 31 of the light source unit 12 and the terminal 61 of the socket 41.

[0059] Furthermore, when the mounting portion 40 is slid in the insertion direction a, as shown in FIG. 13, the inclined surface 57a of the claw portion 57 of the mounting portion 40 constituting the first locking portion 94 contacts the inclined surface 77a of the claw receiving portion 77 of the socket 41. At this time, the electrode 31 of the light source unit 12 is not yet in contact with the terminal 61 of the socket 41.

[0060] From that state, when the mounting portion 40 is further slid in the insertion direction a, the claw portion 57 of the mounting portion 40 slides over the claw receiving portion 77 of the socket 41 while the lock levers 56 on both the left and right sides of the mounting portion 40 are elastically deformed so that the distance between them is narrowed.

[0061] When the claw portion 57 of the mounting portion 40 overrides the claw receiving portion 77 of the socket 41, as shown in FIG. 14, due to the elastic force of the lock levers 56 on both the left and right sides of the mounting portion 40, the claw portion 57 of the mounting portion 40 moves to the left and right outer sides and enters the claw receiving groove 78 of the socket 41, and the locking surface 57b of the claw portion 57 is engaged with the locking surface 77b of the claw receiving portion 77, so that the mounting portion 40 is prevented from coming off with respect to the socket 41. That is, in a state where the mounting portion 40 is attached to a predetermined attachment position of the socket 41, it is locked by the first lock portion 94. When the mounting portion 40 is attached to a predetermined attachment position of the socket 41, the electrode 31 of the light source unit 12 comes into contact with the terminal 61 of the socket 41 and is electrically connected.

[0062] FIG. 15 shows the relationship between the sliding amount of the mounting portion 40 at this time and the sliding load which is the operating force for sliding the mounting portion 40. In FIG. 15, a curve c1 showing the relationship between the sliding amount and the sliding load when the first lock portion 94 locks, a curve c2 showing the relationship between the sliding amount and the sliding load when the electrode 31 is connected between the contact portions 91 inside the terminal 61, and a curve c3 showing the relationship between the sliding amount and the sliding load when the electrode 31 is connected between the contact portions 91 outside the terminal 61 are individually shown.

[0063] After the inclined surface 57a of the claw portion 57 of the mounting portion 40 constituting the first lock portion 94 comes into contact with the inclined surface 77a of the claw receiving portion 77 of the socket 41, the sliding load for sliding the mounting portion 40 begins to increase, and the increase amount of the sliding load decreases in the contact area near the apex of the claw portion 57 and near the apex of the claw receiving portion 77, and a peak p1 of the sliding load is formed at the contact position between the apex of the claw portion 57 and the apex of the claw receiving portion 77.

[0064] After passing the peak p1 of the sliding load due to the contact between the claw portion 57 and the claw receiving portion 77, when the claw portion 57 slides over the claw receiving portion 77 and reaches a position facing the claw groove portion 78, due to the elastic force of the lock lever portions 56 on both the left and right sides, the claw portion 57 enters the claw receiving groove 78, and a sliding force in the insertion direction a acts on the mounting portion 40, and accordingly, the sliding load after passing the peak p1 decreases.

[0065] From the slide position where the slide load due to the contact between the claw portion 57 and the claw receiving portion 77 reaches the peak p1 to the slide position where the locking surfaces 57b of the claw portion 57 and the locking surface 77b of the claw receiving portion 77 engage with each other, the electrode 31 of the light source unit 12 and the terminal 61 of the socket 41 come into contact and are electrically connected.

[0066] The electrode portion 36 of the electrode 31 is inserted between the inner contact portions 91 facing each other and between the outer contact portions 91 facing each other of the terminal 61. Since the electrode portion 36 of the electrode 31 is provided in an arc shape toward the outside in the left - right direction, first, the inner contact portion 91 contacts a position inside the hole portion 37 of the electrode portion 36, and then the outer contact portion 91 contacts a position outside the hole portion 37 of the electrode portion 36. Therefore, a peak p2 of the slide load due to the contact between the inner contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36 and a peak p3 of the slide load due to the contact between the outer contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36 occur.

[0067] The peak p2 of the slide load due to the contact between the inner contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36 and the peak p3 of the slide load due to the contact between the outer contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36 exist from the slide position where the slide load due to the contact between the claw portion 57 and the claw receiving portion 77 reaches the peak p1 to the slide position where the locking surfaces 57b of the claw portion 57 and the locking surface 77b of the claw receiving portion 77 engage with each other.

[0068] Therefore, after passing the peak p1 of the slide load due to the contact between the claw portion 57 and the claw receiving portion 77, in the process where the claw portion 57 engages with the claw receiving portion 77 so as to enter the claw receiving groove 78 by the elastic force of the lock lever portions 56 on both the left and right sides, the electrode 31 of the light source unit 12 and the terminal 61 of the socket 41 come into contact, and during the connection process between the electrode 31 and the terminal 61, the slide does not stop, and they are surely electrically connected.

[0069] Also, it is desirable that the peak p2 of the sliding load due to the contact between the inner contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36 does not overlap with the peak p3 of the sliding load due to the contact between the outer contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36. The connection portion 91 that comes into contact with the electrode portion 36 first experiences more severe metal consumption than the connection portion 91 that comes into contact later. Therefore, by shifting the timing at which the two connection portions 91 come into contact (where the sliding load reaches a peak), only one contact portion 91 will have increased metal consumption. However, even when metal consumption occurs in one contact portion 91, it is possible to surely ensure an electrical connection at the other contact portion 91 where metal consumption is less likely to occur.

[0070] Furthermore, it is desirable that the peak p2 of the sliding load due to the contact between the inner contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36 reaches earlier than the peak p3 of the sliding load due to the contact between the outer contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36. The electrode portion 36 is held by the holding portion 38, and when a force is applied to a location away from the holding portion 38 of the electrode portion 36, the electrode portion 36 is likely to deform. Therefore, if the contact between the outer contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36 occurs first, the electrode portion 36 may deform, and there is a risk that appropriate two-point contact cannot be ensured at the contact location between the inner contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36. Therefore, it is preferable to configure the contact between the inner contact portion 91 and the electrode portion 36 to occur first.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 16, the timing at which the electrode 31 of the light source unit 12 and the terminal 61 of the socket 41 come into contact and are electrically connected may be between the sliding position where the claw portion 57 and the claw receiving portion 77 come into contact and the peak p1 of the sliding load due to the contact between the claw portion 57 and the claw receiving portion 77. In this case, until the peak p1 of the sliding load due to the contact between the claw portion 57 and the claw receiving portion 77 is reached, the sliding load at which the electrode 31 and the terminal 61 come into contact is applied. Therefore, although there is a possibility of being misjudged as having completed sliding during the sliding process, since the sliding amount of the electrode 31 after the electrode 31 and the terminal 61 come into contact can be increased, even if there is a variation in the positions of the electrode 31 and the terminal 61, the electrode 31 can surely be electrically connected to the terminal 61.

[0072] Then, as shown in FIGS. 6, 9, and 11, when the mounting portion 40 is slid to a predetermined mounting position of the socket 41, the claw portion 57 of the mounting portion 40 is engaged with the claw receiving portion 77 of the socket 41, and the mounting portion 40 is locked by the first locking portion 94 so as not to come off with respect to the socket 41. Further, at the timing when the mounting portion 40 slid to the predetermined mounting position of the socket 41 is locked by the first locking portion 94 with respect to the socket 41, the engaging portion 73 is engaged with the engaged portion 51 of the mounting portion 40, and the mounting portion 40 is locked by the third locking portion 96 so as to restrict removal with respect to the socket 41.

[0073] Furthermore, when sliding the mounting portion 40 of the light source unit 12 toward the mounting position of the socket 41, the guide portion 70 of the socket 41 is relatively inserted between the back side of the light source case 30 of the light source unit 12 and the connecting portion 39 of the electrode cover 32, the fitting portion 71 of the guide portion 70 is fitted to the connecting portion 39, and the light source unit 12 is locked by the fourth locking portion 97 so as to restrict removal with respect to the socket 41.

[0074] Also, by attaching the mounting portion 40 to the predetermined mounting position of the socket 41, the front cover 21 can be closed and fixed to the main body 20.

[0075] Then, in the assembled lighting device 10, when an external power source is supplied to the drive circuit 15, the drive circuit 15 converts the external power source into a predetermined lighting power and supplies it from the socket 41 to the light source of the light source unit 12 to turn on the light source. When the light source is a discharge tube, the drive circuit 15 converts the external power into a pulse voltage of a predetermined frequency, applies this pulse voltage from the socket 41 to a pair of external electrodes of the light source unit 12, generates a discharge in the discharge tube, and emits light. The light emitted from the discharge tube is irradiated to the outside through the irradiation opening 24 of the housing 11.

[0076] Also, when the lighting time of the light source of the light source unit 12 reaches a predetermined replacement time, the light source unit 12 is replaced.

[0077] To replace the light source unit 12, as shown in FIG. 2, open the front cover 21, pinch the operation parts 58 of the left and right lock lever parts 56 arranged on both sides below the light source unit 12 so as to approach each other, and disengage the claw part 57 constituting the first lock part 94 from the claw receiving part 77 to release the lock of the first lock part 94.

[0078] At this time, even if the lock of the first lock part 94 is released, the state in which the attachment part 40 is locked to the socket 41 by the third lock part 96 is maintained. If there is no third lock part 96, when the removal direction b of the light source unit 12 is downward, when the lock of the first lock part 94 is released, the light source unit 12 may accidentally drop due to its own weight. The presence of the third lock part 96 can prevent the light source unit 12 from falling. In addition, since the fourth lock part 97 is also locked, the light source unit 12 can be prevented from falling.

[0079] While maintaining the release of the lock of the first lock part 94, hold the handle part 45 of the attachment part 40 and perform a removal operation to pull out the attachment part 40 from the socket 41 in the removal direction b against the locks of the third lock part 96 and the fourth lock part 97. As a result, the locks of the third lock part 96 and the fourth lock part 97 are released, and the attachment part 40 can be slid in the removal direction b together with the light source unit 12.

[0080] At the timing immediately before the attachment part 40 that has been slid in the removal direction b from the attachment position of the socket 41 is removed from the socket 41, for example, at the immediately preceding timing, the engaging part 73 elastically enters the engaging hole 52 of the attachment part 40, the engaging part 73 engages with the engaged part 50 of the attachment part 40, and the second lock part 95 locks to restrict the removal of the attachment part 40.

[0081] By sliding the attachment part 40 in the removal direction b against the lock of the second lock part 95, the engaged part 50 of the attachment part 40 is disengaged from the engaging part 73, the lock of the second lock part 95 is released, and the attachment part 40 is removed from the socket 41.

[0082] If there is no second locking portion 95, for example, the light source unit 12 may be dropped from the hand due to the sliding force that detaches the mounting portion 40 from the socket 41. The presence of the second locking portion 95 causes a detachment restriction to be temporarily applied immediately before the mounting portion 40 is detached from the socket 41, so that the second locking portion 95 can be intentionally unlocked and the mounting portion 40 can be removed from the socket 41.

[0083] Also, a new light source unit 12 to be replaced is attached to a predetermined attachment position of the socket 41 as described above, and the front cover 21 is closed to the main body 20, thereby completing the replacement of the light source unit 12.

[0084] In the mounting device 13 of the present embodiment, when the first locking portion 94 is unlocked, the second locking portion 95 locks the mounting portion 40 to the socket 41 at the timing before the mounting portion 40 that slides in the removal direction b from a predetermined attachment position of the socket 41 is removed from the socket 41. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the mounting portion 40 from unintentionally coming off the socket 41 and the light source unit 12 from falling.

[0085] Also, the third locking portion 96 locks the mounting portion 40 against sliding in the removal direction b at the timing when the first locking portion 94 locks the mounting portion 40 that has been slid to a predetermined attachment position of the socket 41, thereby restricting removal. Therefore, when the first locking portion 94 is unlocked, it is possible to prevent the mounting portion 40 from unintentionally coming off the socket 41 and the light source unit 12 from falling. Further, the third locking portion 96 is unlocked by sliding the mounting portion 40 in the removal direction b against the lock, so that it can be easily unlocked along with the removal operation of the mounting portion.

[0086] Also, when the mounting portion 40 is slid toward the mounting position of the socket 41, between the slide position where the peak p1 of the slide load due to the contact between the claw portion 57 of the mounting portion 40 and the claw receiving portion 77 of the socket 41 occurs and the slide position where the claw portion 57 of the mounting portion 40 and the claw receiving portion 77 of the socket 41 engage, the electrode 31 of the light source unit 12 and the terminal 61 of the socket 41 come into contact and are electrically connected. Therefore, the electrode 31 and the terminal 61 can be surely electrically connected without the slide stopping during the connection process between the electrode 31 and the terminal 61, and the occurrence of a connection failure can be prevented.

[0087] Also, when the mounting portion 40 is slid toward the mounting position of the socket 41, before the slide position of the mounting portion 40 where the slide load due to the contact between the claw portion 57 of the first locking portion 94 and the claw receiving portion 77 reaches the peak p1, the electrode 31 and the terminal 61 are in a non-connected state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light source unit 12 from being energized while being slid in the insertion direction a against the slide load.

[0088] Also, the value of the peak p1 of the slide load when the claw portion 57 and the claw receiving portion 77 of the first locking portion 94 are engaged is larger than the values of the peaks p1 and p2 of the slide load when the electrode 31 and the terminal 61 are electrically connected. Therefore, the electrode 31 and the terminal 61 can be surely electrically connected without the slide stopping during the connection process between the electrode 31 and the terminal 61, and the occurrence of a connection failure can be prevented.

[0089] Also, the positioning portion 49 of the mounting portion 40 that is slid toward the mounting position of the socket 41 engages with the positioning protrusion 72 of the socket 41, thereby positioning the electrode 31 and the terminal 61 and enabling sure electrical connection.

[0090] Note that the devices to which the mounting device 13 is applied are not limited to the light source unit 12 of the lighting device 10, and can also be applied to, for example, a drive unit equipped with a motor or the like, and an electrical device such as a battery unit. When the device is a drive unit or a battery unit, the device can be mounted not only on the lighting device 10 but also on any device.

[0091] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0092] 10 Lighting device 12 Light source unit which is a device 13 Mounting device 31 Electrode 40 Mounting portion 41 Socket 94 First locking portion 95 Second locking portion 96 Third locking portion b Removal direction

Claims

1. An attachment portion provided on a device having an electrode; A socket in which the electrode is electrically connected in a state where the attachment portion is slid to a predetermined attachment position; A first locking portion that locks the attachment portion slid to the attachment position of the socket and can be unlocked by a predetermined unlocking operation; A second locking portion that locks the attachment portion slid in the removal direction from the attachment position of the socket at a timing before the attachment portion is removed from the socket and can be unlocked by a predetermined unlocking operation; An attachment device, comprising:

2. A third locking portion that locks the attachment portion against sliding in the removal direction at the timing when the first locking portion locks the attachment portion slid to the attachment position of the socket, and can be unlocked by sliding the attachment portion in the removal direction against this lock; The attachment device according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. A light source unit which is a device; The attachment device according to claim 1 or 2 for attaching the light source unit; An illumination device, comprising:

Images